Drogheda and Ardee homes part of pilot census survey

A number of local areas were selected to take part in a Census Pilot Survey, carried out by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to try out new and changed questions as well as new practices in preparation for the next full census in 2021.

It covered only 15,000 homes across seven counties including Louth.

Within Louth, there were four enumeration areas each comprising of approximately 450 homes. Participating areas included parts of Ardee, Castletown area of Dundalk, Glenwood area of Dundalk, Stameen area of Drogheda and an area north of Drogheda which takes in townlands Ballymakenny to Yellowbatter and more.

Taking part in the survey was voluntary, with no legal obligation as there is with the full census which takes place every five years.

Topics included in the new questions were childcare, renewable energy sources, smoke alarms, smoking, volunteering, homeworking and citizenship.